At the joint session of the German Bundestag and the French Assemblée Nationale on 22 January, she had already made it quite clear that "security must be ensured, even beyond our own borders".

German Transall aircraft deployed

Two German Transall aircraft are already deployed in Mali. They are to provide logistical support to African forces in country. They will not be involved in military operations and will not be flying into combat zones.

The first ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) troops have already been flown into Bamako with the German aircraft. "The transport of ECOWAS troops is urgently needed, to allow them to join up with France’s efforts," said Angela Merkel. The Chancellor also pointed out that the fight against Islamists will be very difficult.

At a meeting with the African Union Chairperson, Thomas Boni Yayi, in Berlin the Chancellor explained that Germany intends to support the mission against Islamist terrorists in Mali not only with transport aircraft and training assistance, but also with supplies of equipment for African troops.

European training mission

The foreign ministers of the European Union also decided to second a training mission to Mali. Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that this mission is to support African forces in their efforts to stabilise the region.

On 20 December 2012 the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution proposed by France, authorising the deployment of African troops in Mali. With an initial one-year mandate AFISMA (African-led International Support Mission in Mali) is to help Mali’s army to liberate the north of the county from Islamist militias.

EU Training Mission in Mali

The European Union will likely be seconding up to 450 soldiers as the "EU Training Mission in Mali" (EUTM Mali). This will include some 200 instructors as well as staff officers and security staff. They are to ensure that the Malian army is enabled to fight Islamist rebels in the north of the country. The commanding officer is to be French Brigadier General Francois Lecontre. The mission has a 15-month mandate.

Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that the scope of Germany’s involvement in the mission is not yet clear. "This is something that the German government will now obviously be discussing," he said. But before this, the Europeans will have to decide who is to contribute what.

The nature and scope of German involvement in the training mission can only be finalised after the European Union planning is complete. "In the long term, there can be no European or military solution to the problems in Mali. In the long term, it is African forces, the Malian army, that will have to master the situation," said the minister.

Aid for Mali

The EU foreign ministers also declared their willingness to resume development assistance to Mali. Assistance was suspended in the wake of the military coup last April. They also called for a return to democracy in the West African state.

The foreign ministers pledged financial support for ECOWAS. A donor conference is to focus on financing the training mission and on the deployment of ECOWAS troops.

No combat role for German troops

Guido Westerwelle declared unequivocally that no German troops would be playing a combat role to support the French forces. Germany still has thousands of soldiers in Afghanistan, whereas French troops have already been withdrawn. "It is thus obvious that the options open to us are limited," said the Federal Foreign Minister.

Crisis since 2012

The West African state of Mali has been in a state of crisis since the start of 2012. In January 2012 fighting broke out in the north of the country between government forces and Tuareg rebels. The situation deteriorated further in March 2012 when a section of the army overthrew President Amadou Touman Touré. In the course of the coup and the concomitant unrest, Islamist groups managed to extend their control over large areas of northern Mali.